The People of the Lanterns are named after their peculiar lifestyle, which revolves around large magical flowers that hang from giant trees. When a member of the People of the Lanterns is tired or injured, he enters one of the flower pods and emerges refreshed, well-rested, and cured. When a lantern is occupied by someone to cure his body and mind, it emits a golden glow, giving the flowers their name.

When a member emerges from a lantern, his features, the color of his eyes, skin, and sometimes hair have imperceptibly changed and he appears rejuvenated. People of the Lanterns can live virtually forever, but each regeneration they go through erases most of their memories and troubles their sense of time. Thus it is impossible for them to know their own age, or to form real bonds with other people.